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Canadians in general aren’t being vigilant enough about what is being read & shared online.
A thread.
Far too many of us are falsely equating legitimate news outlets with dedicated propaganda/disinformation sites. #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
A thread.
Far too many of us are falsely equating legitimate news outlets with dedicated propaganda/disinformation sites. #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
#RebelNews #ThePostMillennial #TheBuffaloTribune #BuffaloChronicle & other similar sites that have cropped up in recent years, are not the equivalent of legitimate news organizations that care about fact checking, evidence & sources. #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
These so-called “news” sites are, instead, self-serving propaganda outlets dedicated to advancing a political agenda.
They disguise who funds & backs them. Often claiming they run on “small individual donations”, yet refuse to disclose any verifiable proof. #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
They disguise who funds & backs them. Often claiming they run on “small individual donations”, yet refuse to disclose any verifiable proof. #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
These online “news” sites, are easy conduits for #DarkMoney that bypass election laws to influence elections & public opinion. These sites are a weapon of information operations. https://www.law.utoronto.ca/blog/faculty/foreign-dark-money-taints-canadian-parliamentary-proceeding
https://www.law.utoronto.ca/blog/facu... href=" https://north99.org/2018/02/08/dark-money-conservative-politics-shadowy-american-nonprofit-bankrolling-canadas-conservative-movement/
https://north99.org/2018/02/0... href="https://twtext.com//hashtag/cdnpoli"> #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
#cdnmedia is problematic enough with its #Conservative bias in reporting, largely due to consolidation of ownership by wealthy private interests. https://twitter.com/heathermoandco/status/1284981822938648576?s=21
But">https://twitter.com/heathermo... over the past few years this newer dangerous problem has emerged, in addition to these #cdnmedia issues.
But">https://twitter.com/heathermo... over the past few years this newer dangerous problem has emerged, in addition to these #cdnmedia issues.
There is a symbiotic relationship between these disinformation “news” sites & social media. Each feeds off the other. A feedback loop gets created in the messaging, adding legitimacy to disinformation & propaganda.
https://www.npr.org/2020/05/27/860369744/social-media-usage-is-at-an-all-time-high-that-could-mean-a-nightmare-for-democr">https://www.npr.org/2020/05/2... #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
https://www.npr.org/2020/05/27/860369744/social-media-usage-is-at-an-all-time-high-that-could-mean-a-nightmare-for-democr">https://www.npr.org/2020/05/2... #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
These sites not only represent #DarkMoney influence, they represent amplifiers of foreign malign influence operations.
Foreign intelligence services can feed targeted news stories to outlets like these knowing their susceptibilities. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1239000
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www... href="https://twtext.com//hashtag/cdnppli"> #cdnppli #cdnmedia
Foreign intelligence services can feed targeted news stories to outlets like these knowing their susceptibilities. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1239000
Then there are the troll factories. These are inexpensive ways to engage in malign influence, with little to no consequences. Fake troll accounts are regular amplifiers of stories from these “news” sites, thus blurring the lines between foreign & domestic operations. #cdnpoli
But it’s not only state-actor affiliated intelligence operations. There are also the troll-factories-for-hire in locations around the world: Philippines ( https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-19/troll-armies-routine-in-philippine-politics-coming-here-next),">https://www.latimes.com/politics/... India, Macedonia & elsewhere. #cdnpoli #infosec #cdnmedia
These are separate, & in addition to, the likes of Russian troll farms in multiple countries, including surprising locations like Russian operations in Ghana ( https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/04/10/russian-troll-farm-ghana-ward-pkg-go-there-vpx.cnn).">https://www.cnn.com/videos/wo... #cdnpoli #infosec #cdnmedia
The combination of foreign malign influence operations & domestic propaganda & disinformation campaigns, makes for a potent malicious combination that has a ripple effect throughout the Canadian electorate. #cdnpoli #cdnmedia
There doesn’t have to be ‘collusion’ between these foreign & domestic players. When multiple entities are spreading similar toxic messaging, it results in a cumulative effect.
#Democracies around the world are on life support.
Be vigilant about what you read & share. #cdnpoli
#Democracies around the world are on life support.
Be vigilant about what you read & share. #cdnpoli
